The Yamaha DGX-630B is one of the newest Yamaha Keyboard models and it is an upgrade of the Yamaha YPG-535. The YPG-535 is a great instrument, but this one is a slightly higher value model, and we will find out just why in this review. The DGX-630B features 88 Hammer-Action keys, lyric/chord/notation displays, a 6-track recorder, top-of-the-line sound quality, 130 voices and 12 drum kits, and an included bench.

Better Control=Better Sound

The Yamaha DGX-630B features graded hammer-action keys. If you’re not familiar with hammer action, this is the technology that real pianos use to allow the user to add his or her amount of touch to their music. Play a key with a certain amount of force or weight and you will hear just exactly that much sound. As you play higher notes, the hammer action gets lighter; the lower you play, the heavier the action becomes. The hammer action that Yamaha uses on their keyboards is well known among keyboard players. The sound control that it allows is really unlike any other brand like Casio or Roland.

The hammer action in the Yamaha DGX-630B is definitely an improvement from some of their other instruments. The Yamaha YPG-535 features graded “Soft Touch”  action, which isn’t quite as responsive as the DGX-630B, but it still works great for the beginner or the intermediate player. But if you are intermediate or advanced, the DGX-630B is going to be a better choice out of this category.

Aesthetic Features and Casing (and free stuff!)

What we really liked about the Yamaha DGX-630B is how well crafted and designed it is. It has nice wood accents that really complement the style and sound of the grand piano voice/sound. Included with the keyboard is a matching bench that matches the wood accents on the instrument itself. This instrument actually comes with a lot of extras that other models don’t. Besides the free bench, it also comes with a free AC adapter, a sustain pedal, and if you order it Musician’s Friend, they also throw in a free gift. Check it out on Musicians Friend here.

Yamaha DGX-630B 88-Key Digital Piano with Bench

Awesome LCD Display

The LCD display on this one is second-to-none, out of all of the keyboard that Yamaha has put out, this one really takes the cake. The display on the DGX-630B can actually show entire scores of sheet music and the notes as they are played. It eliminates the need to turn pages as you play and it is a GREAT way to learn to read music if you are still learning (or even if you are trying to improve). If you are a beginner, but you are serious about taking up piano/keyboard, you may want to settle on this instrument for just this reason.

USB Connectivity

The connectivity featured on the Yamaha DGX-630B allows you to connect to your computer to record and play back music in MIDI format. It also allows you to send files like voices and songs from your computer to your instrument. You can also plug a USB/Flash drive into the back of the keyboard and it will load saved songs directly from your external drive.

Yamaha’s Latest Technology

Because this is one of the latest Yamaha Keyboard to be released, it is going to include some of Yamaha’s most cutting edge technology. One of the cool features that it includes is called Performance Assist Technology. What this does is automatically selects chords that play along with the prerecorded songs. It allows even the ultimate beginner to play along with the songs, and it is a great way to pick up on how to accompany live music, as it shows each of the notes it is playing.

The DGX-630B also features the classic Yamaha Education suite (YES) that most of their instruments feature. It has 30 songs loaded onto the keyboard with 70 additional songs on the CD-ROM comes with the keyboard. If you are not sure what the YES is, we wrote a description of it here.

One of the other cool features of the Yamaha DGX-630B is the 6-Track Sequencer. It is basically a recording studio inside of your keyboard. Six tracks allow you to  playback 6 different instruments/recording as you play. So can literally be a one-man/woman band! We had a lot of fun playing with the 6-Track sequencer on this model, and I think you will too.

Digital Music Notebook

The Yamaha DGX-630B also feature the Digital Music Notebook, which is almost like an iTunes for keyboard players. It allows you to preview and then download songs that you can learn on your keyboard. Each download includes the song, and the lesson to go along with it. you can also download lessons on different piano techniques and musical theory like riffs, scales, arpeggios, etc. Don’t tell you music teacher this, because it may put them out of a job (just kidding!).

The Highest Sound Quality

The Yamaha DGX-630B is going to feature more voices/sounds than other keyboard in this price range. It comes standard with 130 voices. It also has 12 drum kits. You name an instrument, and its got a high-quality voice to match it. We had a lot of fun with the different synthesizers (Van Halen’s Jump sounds great on here) and the choirs. The DGX-630B features 64-note polyphony. If your not familiar with the concept of polyphony, you can read more about it here. But basically, the higher the polyphony, the more sounds can be heard at once.

Who This Keyboard is Perfect For:

Everyone, really. Most of the keyboards we have reviewed have a very targeted demographic. This DGX-630B is different because of the amount of features included along with the awesome price. You can find it, along with all the free stuff and free shipping, at Musician’s Friend for only $699.99

Yamaha DGX-630B 88-Key Digital Piano with Bench

Today we will talk about the Yamaha YPG-235. This is a great keyboard for the price. Right now you can find it for around $200-300. The lowest price we could find is on Musician’s Friend. you can find it here for only $199.

Yamaha YPG 235 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Keyboard

Overview:

It’s hard to classify the YPG-235. For the price, it would seem to be an entry level instrument. However, if you look at the features, it is much more than just an entry level keyboard. If you have previously owned a Yamaha YPT-210 or a YPT-300, you are going to notice a major difference with the 235. First of all, the YPT-235 is a 76-key, which means your going to have a lot better range with the two extra octaves. If you have ever owned a 61-key, you know how limiting it is to try to play on it. The typical advantage of the 61-key is the price, which usually ranges from $100-300. Well since this one is only $199, you’re really getting the best of both worlds. Add on to this the fact that it is just a much higher quality instrument than any of the 61-keys and you are really getting a great deal for this one.

The Yamaha Difference

If you haven’t played on a Yamaha keyboard, then you probably don;t know about the superior sound quality that Yamaha brings to the table. Yamaha really does make the best product and has the best sound for the money. I’ve tried other brands like Casio and Roland, and none of them sound remotely as good as the Yamaha. This is because Yamaha has the best research out there on how to capture and record sound. The YPG-235 is no exception to this rule. When I was looking for a 76-key portable keyboard, I  decided on the Yamaha after testing out a few other brands and I am so glad I stuck with the Yamaha.

Features

The Yamaha YPG-235 comes with all of the standard features that similar models carry and more. Here is a list of some of the features:

• Graded, soft-Touch Keys (this means more expressiveness in your playing)
• MIDI connectivity (ability to connect to your computer)
• Song recorder (can record up to 6 tracks)
• 76 keys
• Portable Grand Action (button that lets you switch immediately back to Grand Piano voice)
• Dual voice ability (lets you use one voice/sound in the left hand and a second in the right)
• Over 400 voices/sounds to choose from

Summary

This is really a great buy for the money. Check it out here on Musician’s Friend!

Yamaha YPG 235 76-Key Portable Grand Piano Keyboard The YPG-235 carries Yamaha’s Portable Grand legacy with it’s expanded features, upgraded action, and easy-to-move form. You get 76 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch action, a wide selection of Yamaha voices to play, and a 6-track song recorder. Dedicated portable grand button lets you instantly jump back to the grand piano voice during play. Add additional songs and play along using the built-in USB/MIDI port.Battery powered or PA 150 AC power adapter (Not included). See Yamaha Survival Kit D (701589)

I write to you now about the YPT-410 because it is a model currently being closed out by Yamaha. Every once in a while Yamaha introduces a new line of keyboards to keep things current. The Yamaha YPT-410 is one of the top keyboards of the YPT line. It typically runs for $400 in most music stores, but since it the YPT line is being retired, you can find it for only $199 at Musician’s Friend (link below):

Yamaha YPT-410 61-Key Portable Keyboard ¹

The great things that you expect out of the YPT line come standard with the 410: 30 built in songs, the Yamaha Education Suite, the interactive lesson system, and USB connectivity. The YPT-410 is unique because it features the “PC button” which makes connecting the keyboard to your computer even easier. All you need to do after connecting your USB cable is press the PC button and you are ready to go.

Six-Track Sequencer

The 410 also comes with a 6 track sequencer which means you can program in the songs that play. Six track means that you can record yourself in one instrument, and then layer over it with a different instrument. This lets you be your own accompaniment.

Sound Quality

The 410 is the top of the line when it comes to sound quality. It has separate woofers and tweeters, a feature that is unique to this model of the YPT line. It is definitely the top-of-the-line model in this series of 61-key instruments. The keyboard features true stereo sound  with the Yamaha patented Digital Sound Processing (DSP) .

The 410 also comes with a pitch bend wheel, which you won’t find a keyboard at this price.

The 410 comes with 116 panel voices, 12 drum kits, and 361 XGLite voices. The piano voice is recorded by Yamaha’s patented Stereo Sample recording technique, which is used even for their $1000+ models.

Digital Music Notebook

The Digital Music Notebook allows you to download current contemporary music songs to download directly to your keyboard. It helps you learn the music you want to by giving you music books and more. With these books, you can also download the accompaniment to play alongside. You can even sing karaoke alongside the 410 using the Digital Music Notebook feature.

Bottom Line

The bottom line for this keyboard is that it is an entry level Yamaha keyboard that is going to be great for the new pianist. It has all of the features necessary for a learning pianist but also has the capabilities needed by advanced keyboardists. The Yamaha Education Suite is definitely going to be able to help out someone who is just learning but the Digital Music Notebook takes it a step further.

The YPT-410 is available online at Musician’s Friend, marked down from $399 to $199:

Yamaha YPT-410 61-Key Portable Keyboard ¹

Basics

The Yamaha MM6 is a synthesizer workstation in the “M” line that Yamaha introduced some time ago. I don’t own a synthesizer yet but I am looking to acquire one so I played around with the MM6 and the MM8 at my local music store yesterday. I have to say that the MM8 is definitely the better model but of course it is more expensive and is an 88-key compared to the 61 keys that the MM6 has. When shopping for a synthesizer, you should realize that you get what you pay for. But oftentimes, some of the functionality of a cheaper keyboard can be expanded by buying expansion kits or downloading additionaly voices.

If you are looking to buy your first synthesizer this is  a great buy. The great thing about Yamaha is that they offer so much in their products for a great price.

Capabilities

The MM6 is a 61-key synthesizer with 32 note polyphony and an eight track sequencer. The MM6 has 70 MB of sounds and voices for a total of 418 voices and 22 drum kits. You will never get tired of this thing because there is always a new voice to try out.

The MM6 rolls out another installment in the MOTIF series of Yamaha synths that allow customization and editing through your computer. Play out the music you want on the keyboard, upload it via MIDI, change up the sounds and effects on your computer, and then finally record your final track. The MM6 makes it easy to start creating your own dance mixes, movie soundtracks, beats, and any kind of music you want. I am not an expert on synthesizers so Ihad my friend help me write this review. But playing around with MM6 for about 20 minutes gave me a pretty good exposure to the capabilities of this system. And unlike a lot of synthesizers I’ve played with, this one is VERY easy to figure out. Its often hard to figure out what all the buttons and functions do but the MM6 really is different.

The MM6 has four different wheels to control the timbre of the voices and sounds by changing the cutoff, resonance, attack,  and release. The MM6 has an arpeggiator which lets you create you own rhythms automatically. Then you can automatically create lead melodies in piano, synth, guitar and other voices. Its almost too easy to start making music on this thing.

Specifications

• Connections
• Left, Right
• Headphones
• Foot Controller
• Sustain
• MIDI In/Out
• DC inlet (12w power consumption)
• Dimensions: 37.35″W x 4.85″H x 14.75″D
• Weight:11 lb.

The Yamaha MM6 retails for $699 but is available here for $599 with FREE shipping and a FREE gift. This is the lowest price online that I could find for the MM6. Most music stores have to mark up their products because they have such high overhead so I have now turned to buying all my music equipment online because you can always find the cheapest price. Check out additional specs, prices and packages at the link below:

Yamaha MM6 Music Synthesizer Workstation

The On-Stage Keyboard Stand is great because the height adjusts from 27-39 inches and the width adjusts from 11-30″, so it works for keyboards that are 66-key to the full 88-key. This stand can hold up to 395 pounds, which is great, even though you will probably never need that much support. 

The stand locks in place with its ERGO-LOK technology so it will not fail on you and destroy your instrument. 

This is typically found in stores for $80-90 but you can find it here at a new discounted price of only $44.99. 

On-Stage Stands Heavy-Duty Deluxe X ERGO-LOK Keyboard Stand  The pro-level On-Stage Stands Heavy-Duty Deluxe X Ergo Lok Keyboard Stand is built and styled for demanding musicians. Super heavy-duty tubing and welded construction support up to 395 lbs. Double-X frame allows height adjustment from 27″-39″ and width adjustment from 11″-30″.Uses ERGO-LOK technology for ease of use. The ERGO-LOK system includes an ergonomic trigger, an internal rod mechanism, and a solid steel spring-loaded deadbolt assembly. Uses dual sheer disk plates and heavy-duty deadbolt for superior stability.

This one is really easy to set up and can be lowered to fit right underneath your keyboard stand and out of the way. There really isn’t too much to be said about keyboard benches as most of them are pretty similar. The great thing about this one is its great price. 

Most keyboard stand run from $40-50 but this one is available for only $33.99: 

Yamaha PKBB1 Keyboard Bench The Yamaha PKBB1′s ultra-thick padding, extra-wide single seat, and adjustable height assures the utmost comfort. The bench folds up for your traveling convenience. 17.5″-19.5″ height. Black finish.

Sustain pedals are a must have, especially if you play classical music. Pretty much every song uses some sustain pedal, but oftentimes, classical music has it written on the actual score. Here is what sustain pedal notation looks like, in case you didn’t know. It’s the cursive letters that spell “Ped”:

Sustain pedals are also known as damper pedals and they are the most frequently used of the three pedals on a piano. On a standard, acoustic piano, it is located on the very right of the three pedals. When depressed, the sustain pedal “sustains” the sound that is played by removing all of the dampers from the strings and allows them to resonate without interruption.

Features

The Yamaha FC4 emulates this action electronically by extending the notes that you play on your digital instrument. The FC4 is very versatile and can be used as an FS controller for synthesizers and drum machines.

The FC4 works with a wide variety of keyboards, digital pianos, and synthesizers. The FC4 will work with any instrument that has a 1/4″ SUSTAIN input.

The connection is a PHONE plug and has a 6 foot cord, which is more than enough to reach your keyboard. The FC4 also has a rubber bottom that keeps it from sliding around while playing. When I first got my FC4 I had some trouble with it sliding around but I noticed that I was placing it too far back. If you keep the pedal directly underneath you it will not slide around like is does if it is too far in front of you.

To me, having a sustain pedal is a must when you buy a new keyboard or digital piano. I use sustain in almost every song or style that I play, so there is no way I could go without it.

Yamaha FC4 Sustain Pedal…… $22.99

Yamaha FC4 Piano-Style Sustain Pedal The classic-style Yamaha FC4 Sustain Pedal works with any Yamaha keyboard utilizing a sustain pedal with a 1/4″ connector. Permanent 6′ cable to 1/4″ phone plug.

Overview

The P-155 Digital Piano is an instrument made by Yahama, that, up to this point, is the highest quality digital piano that I have reviewed on this site. It has all the capabilities of the models below it (NP-30, P85, P140)and is going to be marketed towards the intermediate to more experienced musician.

Sound Quality

The P-155 features professional grade sound quality with the trademarks Graded Hammer Action. Graded Hammer Action allows the player to use expression and touch to their music. Real pianos have strings that range from very thin to very thick. The P-155′s Graded Hammer Action imitates this effect with heavier hammer weighting towards the bass part of the keyboard and lighter hammer weighting in the higher areas.

The ability to use extra expression also comes from the 4-level Piano Sampling system that is unique to Yahama digital pianos. Depending on how hard or soft you press a key, it will respond with a tone relative to how heavily you pressed it.

The P-155 attributes it sound quality to its unique recording source: a studio quality 9 foot grand piano. After being rigorously tuned and tested, the 9-foot Yahama Grand Piano recorded the voice for the P-155 using their Pure CF Sampling Technology. For those of you not familiar with how digital tones are recorded from acoustic tones, the Pure CF is a top notch recording system used to transfer sound into electronic form.

Built-in Speakers

The P-155 comes with two built-in speakers and two 12 Watt amplifiers so you can practice at home without needing an external PA system. Of course, you can always plug one in if you need one or if you are performing.

Specifications

• 128 Polyphony
• 17 Voices
• Metronome
• Tuning/Transpose
• 7 Demo Songs
• 50 Preset Piano Songs
• MIDI IN/OUT
• 2 Stereo Headphone Jacks

Comes Stock With

Sustain Pedal, Music Rest, Owner’s Manual, AC Power Adapter

Great Price

The quality of this piano should put its price over $2000. However, most retailers and music stores price the P-155 at $1299.

However, you can find the P-155 for only $1199 here:
Yamaha P-155B Contemporary Digital Piano – Black

OK here is my take on the Yamaha NP-30 Digital Piano. This piano could be classified somewhere between a portable keyboard and a digital piano because it is a 76 key so it is more portable than an 88 key piano. But the NP-30 is going to have a little bit less of the variability in sounds and voices that a portable keyboard has. It also isn’t going to have the display and Yamaha Education System that portable keyboards have.

I don’t to start with the drawbacks on this one but its not like its a terrible instrument, its just that you are going to get what you pay for. The Yamaha NP-30 is a great starter digital piano at only $299. If you are just starting into piano and you don’t need the functionality of a full 88 key digital piano, then this model might be the right one for you.

I do have to say that even at its price, this is still a great piano. I played around with this one for a while at the music store and I really liked it. If you have read any of my other reviews on digital pianos, you’ll know that I am looking to buy one. Personally, I am probably going to buy a P-85 or a P-140, but I already own a few portable keyboard and an acoustic piano. So I don’t really need the capabilities of a portable keyboard and I already have in 88 key in the acoustic, so I want to get a really good digital one as my next purchase.

So if you are looking to get a digital piano that sounds like an acoustic, has graded touch for extra expression and sound control, a built in metronome, and sustain plugin capability then this is a great value.

If you want to read more about the specs and capabilities then check it out at Musician’s Friend:
Yamaha NP-30 Digital Keyboard

The YPG-535 Portable Keyboard is an 88-key keyboard that you can find for $499 online. It is a great keyboard for the beginner or intermediate keyboardist/pianist because it has all the keys of an acoustic piano (88) and it is still easy to move around. If your looking for a keyboard that you can transport easily but can also look good in one place, the YPG-535 is it, because it can be bought along with an optional keyboard stand that will look great in your home or apartment.

The YPG-535 can connect to your computer via USB, so you can use all of the functionality of internet and computer connectivity. This includes storing and uploading songs.

Another great thing about the 535 is that it includes that graded soft hammer touch, which allows to add expression to your songs. This however, is pretty much standard with any Yamaha keyboard over $300.

The YPG-535 allows you to record your own songs with playback and a sequencer.

The MSRP on the YPR-535 Keyboard is $899.99 but you can find it at Musician’s Friend (one of my favorite websites for buying musical instruments and accessories for only $499.

Click here to read more about it at Musician’s Friend:
Yamaha YPG-535 88-Key Portable Grand Piano Keyboard